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Sunday, December 23, 2012

School Bus Safety

Amherst
Police Chief Scott P. Livingstone and Superintendent of Schools Maria Geryk would
like to remind drivers of the importance of stopping for school buses with red
flashing lights.The Amherst Police
Department participates annually in programs designed to promote pedestrian
safety such as Operation Yellow Blitz, National Walk and Bike to School Day and
Safe Routes to School.The police department
also works together with the Amherst School Department and local bus companies
following up on reports of drivers not stopping for school buses.

The
penalties in Massachusetts for passing a school bus with its red flashing
lights on are a $250 fine for the 1st offense, and a $1,000 fine and
6 month license suspension for the 2nd offense within 2 years.The fine for not stopping for a pedestrian in
a crosswalk is $200.The National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that in 2010, 4,280 pedestrians
were killed and an estimated 70,000 were injured in traffic crashes in the
United States.On average, a pedestrian
was killed every two hours and injured every eight minutes in traffic crashes.

The
Amherst Police Department would like drivers to take these simple steps before
travelling:

When
backing out of a driveway or leaving a garage, watch out for children
walking or bicycling to school.

When
driving in neighborhoods with school zones, watch out for young people.

Slow
down. Watch for children walking in the street, especially if there are no
sidewalks.

Slow
down. Watch for children playing and congregating near bus stops.

Be
alert. Children arriving late for the bus may dart into the street without
looking for traffic.

Learn
the "flashing signal light system" that school bus drivers use
to alert motorists of pending actions:

Yellow flashing lights indicate that the bus is preparing to stop to load or
unload children. Motorists should slow down and prepare to stop their
vehicles.

Red flashing lightsand extended stop arms
indicate that the bus has stopped, and that children are getting on or
off. Motorists must stop their
cars and wait until the red lights stop flashing, the extended stop sign
is withdrawn, and the bus begins moving before they can start driving
again.

Patrol Units

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Amherst Public Safety Communications Center

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